Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha announces who will bat at third in 2026 T20 World Cup
After a tactical success during the series opener against Australia On January 29, Salman announced that he will permanently hold the No. 3 position, marking a major departure from the team’s traditional reliance on Babar Azam in that crucial one-down spot. Salman Agha’s decision to move up the rankings is a proactive measure designed for that purpose ‘fire with fire’ against the spin-heavy middle-overs that are expected Sri Lanka. Traditionally a middle-order finisher, the captain believes his aggressive style is better suited to dominate spinners at the back end of the Powerplay. Addressing the media on January 30, he reinforced his new role:
“Yes, I will be at No. 3 in the future. We expect to see a lot of spin, and I believe I can dominate the spin in the Powerplay. That’s why I moved up and that’s where I’ll stay.” said Salman Agha.
In the first T20I in Lahore against Australia, Salman immediately confirmed this shift by walking in at the fall of the second ball and smashing 39 off 27 deliveries, including four huge sixes. His strike rate at No. 3 has historically been phenomenal, often exceeding 160, compared to his career strike rate of around 118 lower down the order.
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The mid-innings stabilizer for Pakistan ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup
The captaincy promotion has led to a significant reshuffle for former skipper Babar, who has been officially moved to No. 4. In the series opener against Australia, Babar managed a steady 24 off 20 balls, taking on a role focused on rotation and stabilization as the Powerplay aggressors took the first risks. This new configuration allows Pakistan to field an explosive opening pair Saim Ayub And Sahibzada Farhanof Fakhar Zaman providing additional firepower at number 5.
In the match, Pakistan successfully defended a total of 168/8 at the Gaddafi Stadium, using an “excellent” spin attack to secure a 22-run victory. The win was historic and marked Pakistan’s first T20I win over Australia in 2,650 days. Saim Ayub was the star of the show, earning Player of the Match honors for his blistering 40 off 22 balls, followed by two crucial wickets with the ball.
Pakistan’s potential top order for the 2026 T20 World Cup
- No. 1 & 2: Saim Ayub & Sahibzada Farhan (openers)
- No. 3: Salman Ali Agha (captain and spin aggressor)
- No. 4: Babar Azam (anchor/stabilizer)
- No. 5: Fakhar Zaman (aggressive finisher)
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